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WHO: Dokja, Himeka, and Abel
WHAT: Dokja has a booboo after his altercation with Gen; Abel is taking him to Himeka to make it better
WHERE: The Godsblood Lodestone
WHEN: After this
WARNINGS: Blood/head trauma/injury, Dokja got Messed Up

[ it has been an exceptionally long day - and yet one that has been fruitful for many. there are new faces among their rank at the Lodestone beneath Godsblood, awakening Pleroma saved from the fate of having fallen into the hands of the Kenoma, saved from knowing the nauseating sensation of that living liquid writhing down one's throat and driving them to madness.

but, as with all things, hasn't come simple or easy, nor without consequences.

it's grown late; most must have surely retreated to the city proper by now, looking to find temporary lodgings and to recuperate from a "rebirth" via chrysalis. but the traveling stones have sent two latecomers - Aions not newly reborn, but who've had time and experience in Horos' lands - stumbling rather abruptly outward as the shimmer of the teleportation spell deposits them in the chilly shadow of the Lodestone's monolith. Dokja is cradled in Abel's arms, face bloodlessly pale underneath bruises and lacerations, beneath the thick caking of blood dripping from somewhere at the side of his head. his temple got the worst of it-- but he's in a very, very bad way. to say someone made a punching bag of his face is no exaggeration. ]

Help-- I need help, quickly, he's--

[ the call rings out, echoes off of the high stone; it carries and makes him sound even more desperate, which is a rather impressive feat considering. and doesn't he have a good reason...? the man he's holding-- one might be forgiven for thinking Dokja might already be dead. ]

D-Dokja. Dokja, hold on, can you hear me? [ the priest is hurriedly stepping further into the ruins, naked fear and something plaintive in his gaze that searches for help. please-- please don't let him be too late. please don't be too late-- ]

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[ Despite the loaded question, there's no judgment coming from her side. Himeka is quite reckless in her own right, the only difference is she can heal herself back up. (Which really just leads to more recklessness, but that's no one's problem but her own.)

She's happy to lead the way through the winding corridors carved out of the very stone. Truth be told, she prefers the water route, but she figures this is better for Dokja. ]

It sounds like there were a lot of fights. He's not the only one in poor condition that's been brought back.

[ Though arguably one of the worst. Estinien had been mostly conscious, at least.

Still, she offers a smile over her shoulder to Abel and nods. ]

It's good that you found him. He'll pull through thanks to you.

[ Himeka 🤝 Abel
being reckless but having self-healing so it's probably fine (no)

ah... the news others had suffered injuries as well makes the feeling of a tightness in his chest deepen a bit, although he's doing a best to ignore it and not give it time to further weigh down on his spirits. Abel knows that they were fighting for a good cause; saving others from the fate their friends now lost to the Regent... it was inevitable there would be sacrifices, even if it's no secret he highly dislikes that fact. ]

Did you run into any trouble yourself, Miss Himeka...? It sounds like it's been-- ah. Quite a day for everyone, hm?

[ Clearly this means they need to team up in the next mission so they can both be very good at nearly but not dying.

It is indeed the way of battle and while not every one can commit themselves to the battlefield, there will inevitably be those that do put themselves in harm's way. It doesn't upset her to the extent it does him since she has never shied away from it, but she would be lying if she didn't think she has some responsibility towards the rest of their allies. As much as she also wants to be on the front lines, she and a few others have a duty off the battlefield too.

Himeka purses her lips, then shakes her head ]

Unfortunately, no.

[ That comes off poorly, but she had very much been looking for trouble. A particular brand of trouble. ]

--Or rather, it ended up being a good thing. I think.

[ If she didn't find Zenos then it's very possible he just didn't hatch with everyone else. That's the theory she has to go with.

With a small sigh as they press through the narrow corridor--Abel will need to make sure he's not incidentally giving Dokja further head injuries along the way--she gives Abel a very quick once-over. ]

Are you unharmed?

[ oh... her answer is rather befuddling - and Abel's glance in her direction conveys as much. but he returns his attentions to his path ahead in short order, not wanting to bonk Dokja's head against anything considering he's already lost enough precious brain cells today. ]

Hm. That was a very mysterious response...

[ MYSTERIOUS...

--but he's quick to shake his head in answer to her next question. ...and then bob an affirmative when he realizes what he's just said. ]

No, no-- I wasn't hurt! Thankfully. The Kenoma who hurt Mr. Dokja was in bad straits himself and ended up being carried off by one of his companions, so-- neither of us engaged in any kind of combat. It was a relief... a big relief. I'm not sure what would have happened, otherwise-- I suppose a stroke of good luck was in my favor things worked out that way...

[ Brain cells are indeed in short order, it is best to preserve as many as possible. Especially if they must needs be shared amongst the rest of the light-adjacent Aions.

Himeka doesn't expound on her answer at all. (Dialogue options are woefully limited sometimes.)

It sounds like Abel arrived at the end of the altercation, then. Bully for him and Dokja both that he was able to bring the other back without further incident. ]

I suppose we may get the full story when he wakes up.

[ She doesn't know Dokja enough at all, clearly.

Though for her own investigation of sorts... ]

The Kenoma... do you remember what they looked like?

[ ...oh.

that question has Abel's head tilting briefly in Himeka's direction; there is something complicated in his expression before his shoulders heave softly. ]

I do... but, it's-- it wasn't someone who's name I'm familiar with.

[ which isn't a lie; there were several of the Kenoma who refused the pleasantries of introduction, and Gen had certainly been one of them. ]

I don't know the details quite yet, Miss Himeka, but... I think something happened between him and Mr. Dokja. I'm hoping that he might be able to shed some light into everything once he's feeling well enough, just as you said.

[ Not much to go off of, but that's alright. She's confident that Dokja will make a full recovery even if isn't planning on playing a good patient. Abel had gotten to him before his injuries could become too sever, so with some dogged determination to get him to rest on their parts he will pull through. ]

We'll just have to wait and see when he's feeling up to it, then.

[ She's content to wait and see a bit of Godsblood for herself in the meantime. ]

We can take him to your place, I assume?

...Ah.

[ ah. ah, right. their destination. their destination that they're going to, right now. right now at this moment. the place they're going as they speak. the place.

Abel's giving Himeka a rather vacant, empty sort of smile, ]

...Pardon?

[ Luckily (or unluckily) for Abel, Himeka doesn't read too much into that expression. She's prone to rather vacant looks herself at times. Though she does pause to regard him with a curious look of her own. ]

Unless you were going to take him to his? It's probably fine either way, though I didn't ask if I could stay with him instead.

[ Just three peas in a pod in Abel's totally existing and accommodating abode. ]

--Yes! To his place...! That's what I was going to suggest, mm. I'm sure Mr. Dokja will be fine with you keeping him company, too-- and honestly, he might could do with a bit of babysitting if we're being honest here...

[ perfect. perfect?? this all works out perfectly and flawlessly. ]

I'm almost certain he's concussed... trying to make sure he gets in bed and stays there might be something of a chore, you know?

Mmm, I suppose you're right.

[ Her main goal is to tend to Dokja, isn't it? Sightseeing will doubtlessly have to come after. ]

I trust you know the way, then?

[ haha,

...after a pause just long enough to start becoming awkward, ]

Not a single clue, actually~! You, ah. You can't, say... wake him up as easily as you put him to sleep, can you? Just out of curiosity's sake. I-in case that becomes relevant.

Oh yes, we can wake him up.

[ She stops then, turning to face Abel and Dokja fully. ]

You just need to hit him.

...Hit him?

[ Abel's footsteps abruptly come to a halt, and he almost bumps into poor Himeka for the way she's suddenly ceased her pace in front of him. for a moment, he simply stares at her as if contemplating if he's misheard her-- ]

Hm. Hit him, you say. If that's the only way, I suppose I might take one for the team. Do my civic duty and all that. Just a little whack, right...? A tiny one? It isn't like he doesn't deserve it for being so pig-headed. No one has to know. You wouldn't tattle on me, right...? It would be our little secret?

[ whispering, ]

It shouldn't take much.

[ See? Not so bad. ]

I wouldn't generally recommend it with someone that's already severely injured, but...

[ Himeka has Esuna. Has she forgotten that? Yes. Yes she has.

She holds a finger to her lips. ]

Just between you and me. And it's good to know that if I need you to hit me in the future I can count on you.

[ Himeka...... so glad he has finally found someone to share in his utterly 2iq shenanigans. this is a blessed day, a glimmer of light on a gray and otherwise stressful evening. bless this woman. ]

Oh, yes, you can absolutely count on me in your time of need, Miss Himeka... so~! Should Dokja not wake by the time we've gotten into the city, I'll simply have to...

[ he makes a 'POW' sound effect with his mouth, and you know he'd be doing some lame kung-fu chop if his hands weren't preoccupied holding this loser, right, ]

[ She is entirely too willing to go along with most ideas just to see what happens. In this case she is actually a little enamored at the idea of Abel using some sweet martial arts moves on their charge to wake him up.

Smart? No. Amusing? Yes. (She can heal it, it's fine.)

Himeka nods. ]

Yep! Should be relatively painless. Except for the small amount of pain. But don't worry, I can take care of that.

[ It's a perfectly imperfect plan. ]

Mm, mm. I don't see what could go wrong, honestly... between the two of us, Mr. Dokja really is in the best of hands, so it's perfectly fine...! Perfectly fine.

[ Abel's nodding right along, which just furthers the circle of enabling happening between the two of them; is the universe beginning to realize this is a horribly dangerous partnership that is coming together over one man's unconscious body...?

Dokja, what have you wrought........... ]

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returned

it's a curse that shouldn't be inflected on anyone tbh

i believe u mean a gift?????? himami???

HIMAMI...i'm dying harder than dokja now

happy mother's day himami 😌🙏

where are her gifts?

she gets the gift of their... love...?

you can't eat that...

i mean... not with that attitude

good point, hopefully it won't hurt

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